Functional Classification of Towns and Cities: Quantitative Methods

In the past, towns were related to administrative, commercial, industrial, military, and religious activities. Nowadays, towns perform various activities or functions including transportation, manufacturing, mining, recreation, and most recently, information technology-related activities. Some cities are well known for their specific roles, such as Varanasi as a religious city, Chandigarh as an administrative city, Detroit as an industrial city, and Singapore as a port city. The variety of functions in large cities is larger.

Activities in NYC (shutterstock.com/Luciano Mortula – LGM)

 

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUNCTIONS - Occur in the Cities

 

The functions of towns and cities can vary depending on their size, location, and history. However, some of the most common functions of towns and cities include:

Administration: Towns and cities are often the centers of government and administration. They are home to government offices, courts, and other institutions.

Education: Towns and cities are home to schools, colleges, and universities. They are important centers of learning and research.

Business and Commerce: Towns and cities are major centers of trade and commerce. They are home to businesses, banks, and financial institutions.

Industry and Manufacturing: Towns and cities are home to factories and other industrial enterprises. They are important centers of manufacturing and production.

Transportation and communication: Towns and cities are important hubs for transportation and communication. They are home to airports, seaports, and other transportation infrastructure.

Recreation: Towns and cities are major tourist destinations. They are home to historical landmarks, cultural attractions, and natural beauty.

Construction: Towns and cities are home to people from all walks of life. They provide a place to live, work, and raise a family.

 

In addition to these common functions, towns and cities may also have specialized functions. For example, a town may be a religious center, a mining town, or a military base. The specific functions of a town or city will depend on its unique history, culture, and economy.

 

 FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE CITIES  

 

Here are some of the most common functional classifications of cities:

Administrative Towns: These towns are the centers of government and administration. They are home to government offices, courts, and other institutions. Examples of administrative towns include Washington, D.C., London, and New Delhi.

Educational Towns: These towns are home to major universities and colleges. They are important centers of learning and research. Examples of educational towns include Oxford, Cambridge, and Santiniketan.

Commercial Towns: These towns are major centers of trade and commerce. They are home to large businesses, banks, and financial institutions. Examples of commercial towns include Mumbai, New York City, London, and Tokyo.

Industrial Towns: These towns are home to large factories and other industrial enterprises. They are important centers of manufacturing and production. Examples of industrial towns include Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Jamshedpur.

Transport and Communication Towns: These towns are important hubs for transportation and communication. They are home to airports, seaports, and other transportation infrastructure. Examples of transport and communication towns include Mumbai, London, New York City, and Singapore.

Recreational Towns: These towns are major tourist destinations. They are home to historical landmarks, cultural attractions, and natural beauty. Examples of recreational towns include Gangtok, Shillong, Paris, Bangkok, and Venice.

Religious Towns: These towns are important centers of religious activity. They may be home to holy sites, temples, or mosques. Examples of religious towns include Ayodhya, Varanasi Mecca, and Jerusalem.

Mining Towns: These towns are home to mines and other mining operations. They may be temporary towns that are abandoned when the mines are depleted, or they may be permanent towns that support the mining industry. Examples of mining towns include Raniganj, Jharia, Montana, and Deadwood.

Military Towns: These towns are home to military bases and other military installations. They may be temporary towns that are established during times of war, or they may be permanent towns that support the military. Examples of military towns are Almora, San Diego, California, and Virginia.

 

The functions of towns and cities can change over time. For example, a town that was once primarily agricultural may become more industrial as its economy changes. Or, a town that was once a major tourist destination may become more residential as tourism declines. The functions of a town or city are also influenced by its location, size, and history.

 

Scholars and researchers from all over the world have put forward various classifications of the towns on the bases of functions:

 

Harris's Functional Classification of Cities

Harris's functional classification of cities is a system of classifying cities based on their dominant economic activity. It was developed by Chauncy D. Harris in his 1943 paper, "A Functional Classification of Cities in the United States". Harris identified nine main categories of cities:

1. Manufacturing (M): Cities that are primarily engaged in manufacturing activities, such as the production of goods
2. Retailing (R): Cities that are primarily engaged in the sale of goods to consumers.
3. Diversified (D): Cities that are not primarily engaged in any one economic activity, but have a mix of activities
4. Wholesaling (W): Cities that are primarily engaged in the distribution of goods to retailers and other businesses.
5. Transportation (T): Cities that are important transportation hubs, such as ports, airports, and railway junctions.
6. Mining (S): Cities that are primarily engaged in mining activities, such as the extraction of minerals.
7. Educational (E): Cities that are home to major universities and colleges.
8. Resort or retirement (X): Cities that are popular tourist destinations or are popular places for people to retire.
9. Others (P): Cities that do not fit into any of the other categories.

 

Harris's classification has been criticized for being too simplistic and for not taking into account the changing nature of cities. However, it remains a useful tool for understanding the economic structure of cities.

Here is an example of how Harris's classification can be used. The city of Detroit, Michigan, would be classified as a manufacturing city (M) because its dominant economic activity is the production of goods, such as cars and trucks. The city of New York City would be classified as a diversified city (D) because it has a mix of economic activities, including finance, commerce, and culture. Harris's classification can be used to compare cities within a country or region or to compare cities across different countries. It can also be used to track the changing economic structure of cities over time.

 

Howard Nelson's Functional Classification of Cities

Howard Nelson's functional classification of cities is a system of classifying cities based on their dominant functions. It was developed by Howard Nelson in his 1955 paper, "A Service Classification of American Cities". Nelson's classification is more detailed than Harris's classification and takes into account a wider range of economic activities. It has been used to study the functional structure of cities in the United States, Canada, and other countries.

 

To classify a city using Nelson's classification, the following steps are taken: 

1. The percentage of the city's workforce that is employed in each industry group is calculated.
2. The city is assigned to the category for which it has the highest percentage of employment. For example, a city with 40% of its workforce employed in manufacturing, 20% engaged in retail trade, and 10% engaged in each of the other industry groups would be classified as a manufacturing city (M).
3. He found a direct relationship between the size of the city and the percentage of the population engaged in various occupations.
4. A statistical method known as the Standard Deviation (SD) was used to provide an answer to the question of when a city becomes specialized.
5. If a city is designated as Pf 2F, it means that professional services account for between 22.87% and 28.76% of its workforce, while finance, insurance, and real estate account for between 4.44 and 5.69%.

TABLE: Nelson's Nine Activity Groups (1950)                                              

	Mf	R	Pf	T	Ps	Pb	W	F	Mi
Average	27.07	19.23	11.09	07.12	06.20	04.58	03.85	03.19	01.62
Standard Deviation	16.04	03.63	05.89	04.58	02.07	03.48	02.14	01.25	05.01
Average Plus 1SD	43.11	22.86	16.69	11.70	08.27	08.06	05.99	04.44	06.63
Average Plus 2SD	59.15	26.49	22.87	16.28	10.34	11.54	08.13	05.69	11.64
Average Plus 3SD	75.19	30.12	28.76	20.86	12.41	15.02	10.27	06.94	16.65

Nelson's classification is based on the following nine major industry groups: 

1. Manufacturing (Mf): Cities that are primarily engaged in manufacturing activities, such as the production of goods
2. Retail trade (R): Cities that are primarily engaged in the sale of goods to consumers.
3. Professional services (Pf): Cities that are primarily engaged in providing professional services, such as law, medicine, and accounting.
4. Transportation and communication (T): Cities that are important transportation hubs, such as ports, airports, and railway junctions.
5. Personal services (Ps): Cities that are primarily engaged in providing personal services, such as hairdressing, cleaning, and laundry.
6. Public administration (Pb): Cities that are the centers of government and administration.
7. Wholesale trade (W): Cities that are primarily engaged in the distribution of goods to retailers and other businesses.
8. Finance, insurance, and real estate (F): Cities that are primarily engaged in financial activities, such as banking, insurance, and real estate.
9. Mining (Mi): Cities that are primarily engaged in mining activities, such as the extraction of minerals

 

Nelson's classification has been criticized for being too complex and for not being easy to apply to small towns. However, it remains a useful tool for understanding the functional structure of cities.